April 13, 2017 · Lent · Year A
Good Friday memorial
Good Friday invites Christians to remember the torture, betrayal, and state execution of Jesus alongside the Passover liberation celebrated by Jewish neighbors. The reflection traces the full arc of degradation and communal violence that led to the cross.
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Over the past week, our Jewish neighbors have been celebrating the Passover of the Lord (Pesach). We are grateful for the liberation from slavery in Egypt (the story of the ten plagues as described in Exodus).
Today for Christian community, we remember the sacrifices that came before us especially that of the torture, community betrayal, and state execution of Jesus. This day memorializes a vicious funeral procession that began with betrayal by closest friends, exile and condemnation by religious leaders, and finally death sentence by the political elite to silence him. Further, the story is told about personal degradation with bullying and mocking, whips and beatings, bruises and blood, reduction and humiliation, and finally excruciating death at the hands of violent and capricious people eager to put to death the powerful mission.
That forced death march becomes a timeless and powerful symbol of dedication to God, of dedication to something bigger than ourselves, of martyrs, of social outcasts, of a state execution, of terror and of insane violence. The sacrifices of that day (and the many brothers and sisters that followed) however would not be forgotten. Though some may distort the mission and Truth to this day, the Truth of that mission resurrected and gives us liberty today.
Thus, the Passover began the process of liberation. We can link that liberation with the sacrifice memorialized today as a reaffirmation of deliverance (that the Truth shall set you free). The Truth of dignity, compassion, liberation and redemption of every person would not die. This Truth gave (continues to give) hope to billions around the world. That Truth can still give us much needed hope in our struggles today.
May we remember the sacrifices with honor, and may we embody this Truth in remembrance.
Today for Christian community, we remember the sacrifices that came before us especially that of the torture, community betrayal, and state execution of Jesus. This day memorializes a vicious funeral procession that began with betrayal by closest friends, exile and condemnation by religious leaders, and finally death sentence by the political elite to silence him. Further, the story is told about personal degradation with bullying and mocking, whips and beatings, bruises and blood, reduction and humiliation, and finally excruciating death at the hands of violent and capricious people eager to put to death the powerful mission.
That forced death march becomes a timeless and powerful symbol of dedication to God, of dedication to something bigger than ourselves, of martyrs, of social outcasts, of a state execution, of terror and of insane violence. The sacrifices of that day (and the many brothers and sisters that followed) however would not be forgotten. Though some may distort the mission and Truth to this day, the Truth of that mission resurrected and gives us liberty today.
Thus, the Passover began the process of liberation. We can link that liberation with the sacrifice memorialized today as a reaffirmation of deliverance (that the Truth shall set you free). The Truth of dignity, compassion, liberation and redemption of every person would not die. This Truth gave (continues to give) hope to billions around the world. That Truth can still give us much needed hope in our struggles today.
May we remember the sacrifices with honor, and may we embody this Truth in remembrance.